Senate Backs Obama’s Nominees for Dept. of Transportation and Commerce

The Senate Commerce Committee supports President Barack Obama‘s nominees for the Department of Transportation and Commerce.

Charlotte, North Carolina Mayor Anthony Foxx was voted as the U.S. Transportation secretary, while billionaire Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker was chosen as the Commerce secretary. It is not known when the full Senate will vote on the nominations, depending on the Republicans if they agree to work with the Democrats.

“There has been strong bipartisan support for these nominees, and it was evident again today,” Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, said in a statement. “I urge my colleagues to act quickly now to schedule votes on their nominations.”

Foxx is seen as a rising star in the Democratic party and is appreciated for his experience in transportation issues, besides the projects on airport improvements and streetcar and light rail. Foxx promised at his hearing to cooperate with the Congress in order to find a solution to fund the enormous US infrastructure needs, despite the Republican opposition to raising taxes and the tight budget.

Pritzker, one of the wealthiest Americans and an heiress to the Hyatt hotel fortune, pledge to be ‘a voice for business within the administration’ and encourage the push for policies to boost US competitiveness.